Mussoorie Mall bldg sealed for flouting norms

MUSSOORIE: The Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) sealed an under-construction building on the Mall Road on Friday. The move came after TOI had reported several anomalies in the sanction of the map of the building and norms and guidelines being flouted during construction.

The sealed structure, situated within the compound of Hotel Hakman’s on the Mall Road, was undergoing reconstruction.

Speaking to TOI, Atul Gupta, MDDA’s executive engineer, said, “The building’s height was approximately 2.19 metres below the Mall Road, instead of the required 3 metres, as per the guidelines. Therefore, acting on the orders of the MDDA joint secretary, the building has been sealed by us.”

On the question of the building receiving commercial map approval despite its prior residential use before 1980, Gupta said that an investigation was underway into the matter and appropriate action would be taken in due course. The MDDA’s action comes in the wake of a TOI article dated October 17, titled ‘Illegal Constructions Besmirching the Beauty of Mall Road’. Following the publication of the news, MDDA expedited proceedings against the property.

20%-30% growth in mall sales this festive season

Major malls in Kolkata have seen a growth in sales and footfall this festive season, indicating a return to pre-Covid normalcy. While South City Mall experienced a decrease in footfall compared to last year, turnover grew around 15%-20%, with the effective growth being modest. City Centre malls observed a 6% increase in footfall, with categories like apparel, lifestyle, electronics, and kids' sections performing well. Acropolis mall reported an uptick in Diwali shopping, while Quest mall saw similar sales as last year despite some stores being closed.

Civic body seals illegal premises at Patnem

Following directives from the high court, the Canacona municipality in Goa has sealed an illegal tourism establishment in Patnem. The court had ordered authorities to crack down on such structures in the no-development zone and prohibited commercial activities in them. The establishment had not obtained any permits or licenses from the municipality, and the electricity department has cut off its power supply. The court's actions were in response to a writ petition filed by Arvind Sinai Nagarsenkar.

550 evacuated after fire breaks out in Ghaziabad mall

A fire broke out in Aditya Mall in Indirapuram, Ghaziabad, prompting the evacuation of around 550 people who were watching movies. The fire, caused by a short circuit in the electric cables, filled the auditoriums with smoke. Fortunately, there were no injuries as the mall staff and fire department successfully evacuated the audience. The fire officer praised the mall authorities for their updated fire-fighting equipment. The mall is now open, but the movie auditoriums are closed for repair work. Movie shows are expected to resume on Wednesday.

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